Tim Sherwood's hopes of becoming Tottenham Hotspur's next permanent manager were boosted after his attacking team came back to win 3-2 at Southampton in an enthralling Premier League encounter on Sunday.

Forgotten man Emmanuel Adebayor scored twice as caretaker boss Sherwood played the Togo striker up front with Roberto Soldado for the first time in a ploy which helped Spurs move above Manchester United into seventh spot.

Sherwood, who took over for two games at least when Andre Villas-Boas was sacked after the previous weekend's 5-0 home thumping by Liverpool, threw caution to the wind in his bid to get the job full-time by playing without a defensive midfielder.

It looked to have backfired when unmarked midfielder Adam Lallana grabbed the opener for Southampton on 13 minutes with a fine turn and shot from 20 metres.

Adebayor, who scored on his return to the team in the midweek League Cup loss to West Ham United, then expertly volleyed in Soldado's superb cross for a 25th-minute equaliser on his first league start of the season.

There are no rules, there are different ways to win a football match. You have to do what you believe in

Tim Sherwood

Spurs, who have now come from behind to win their last three away games, came out flying in the second half and it was no surprise when Jos Hooiveld turned Danny Rose's low cross into his own goal on 54 minutes.

Southampton made it 2-2 when Rickie Lambert tapped in following more great work from England colleague Lallana but Adebayor sealed the win when he fired home after a ricochet on 64 minutes, with Soldado then missing three good chances.

"You enjoy it when you win. I did not enjoy the first half, I thought we were poor," Sherwood told Sky Sports. "I need to speak to the chairman about how they want to take the club forward. That'll happen sooner rather than later I hope."

"I like to set teams up like that [in an attacking manner]. There are no rules, there are different ways to win a football match. You have to do what you believe in."

On Adebayor, who made his first league start of the season, Sherwood said: "Emmanuel Adebayor has not been playing, so he did not require much motivating. You put him back in because of what he has done in history."

As well as ex-Spurs manager Glenn Hoddle, who has said he wants the job again, Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino has been touted in the media as a potential Tottenham target given his largely English side's youthful brand of pressing football.

In Sunday's late game, Everton manager Roberto Martinez visited former club Swansea City looking for a victory that would take his side into the top four.

Liverpool deposed Arsenal as league leaders on Saturday with a 3-1 win at home to Cardiff City, while Manchester City moved up to second place by winning 4-2 at Fulham. Arsenal can return to the top of the table by beating Chelsea at the Emirates on Monday night, but Chelsea will draw level on points with Liverpool if they prevail.

Reuters, Agence France-Presse

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Attacking gamble pays off for Spurs